Blisters

Topic Overview

Blisters are fluid-filled bumps that look
like bubbles on the skin. You may develop a
blister on your foot when you wear new shoes that rub against your skin or on
your hand when you work in the garden without wearing gloves. Home treatment is
often all that is needed for this type of blister.

Other types of
injuries to the skin that may cause a blister include:

Burns from exposure to heat, electricity,
chemicals, radiation from the sun, or friction.

Some spider bites, such as a bite from a
brown recluse spider. Symptoms of a brown recluse spider bite include reddened
skin followed by a blister that forms at the bite site, pain and itching, and
an open sore with a breakdown of tissue (necrosis) that develops within a few
hours to 3 to 4 days following the bite. This sore may take months to heal.

Pinching the skin forcefully, like when a finger gets caught in a
drawer. A blood blister may form if tiny blood vessels are damaged.

Infection can cause either a single blister or clusters of
blisters.

Chickenpox (varicella) is a common
contagious illness that is caused by a type of herpes virus. Chickenpox
blisters begin as red bumps that turn into blisters and then scab over. It is
most contagious from 2 to 3 days before a rash develops until all the blisters
have crusted over.

Shingles, often seen in older adults,
is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox. Shingles blisters look like
chickenpox, but they usually develop in a band on one side of the
body.

Hand-foot-and-mouth disease, another type of viral infection, most often occurs in young children. Symptoms include a rash of small sores or blisters that usually appear on the hands and feet and in the mouth.

Cold sores, sometimes called fever blisters, are
clusters of small blisters on the lip and outer edge of the mouth. They are
caused by the herpes simplex virus. Cold sore-type blisters that develop in the
genital area may be caused by a
genital herpes infection.

Impetigo
is a bacterial skin infection. Its blisters, which often occur on the face,
burst and become crusty (honey-colored crusts).

Infected hair
follicles (folliculitis) cause red, tender areas that turn into
blisters at or near the base of strands of hair.

A
scabies infection, which occurs when mites burrow into
the skin, may cause tiny, itchy blisters that often occur in a thin line or
curved track.

Blisters may develop from a
disease that causes your body to attack your own skin (autoimmune disease).

Occasionally a prescription or nonprescription
medicine or ointment can cause blisters. The blisters
may be small or large and usually occur with reddened, itchy skin. If the
blisters are not severe and you do not have other symptoms, stopping the use of
the medicine or ointment may be all that is needed. Blisters may
also occur as a symptom of a toxic reaction to a medicine. This reaction is
called
Stevens-Johnson syndrome. Blisters that occur with
other signs of illness, such as a fever or chills, may
mean a more serious problem.

Medicines you put on your skin
(topical medicines), such as Neosporin or benzocaine (for example, Anbesol,
Hurricaine, or Orajel), and ethylenediamine, which is used in some topical
medicines.

Seizure medicines.

Pain in children under 3 years

It can be hard to tell how much pain a baby or toddler is in.

Severe pain (8 to 10): The
pain is so bad that the baby cannot sleep, cannot get comfortable, and cries
constantly no matter what you do. The baby may kick, make fists, or
grimace.

Moderate pain (5 to 7): The baby is
very fussy, clings to you a lot, and may have trouble sleeping but responds
when you try to comfort him or her.

Mild pain (1 to 4): The baby is a little fussy and clings to you a little but responds
when you try to comfort him or her.

Pain in adults and older children

Severe pain (8 to 10): The pain
is so bad that you can't stand it for more than a few hours, can't sleep, and
can't do anything else except focus on the pain.

Moderate pain (5 to 7): The pain is bad enough to disrupt your
normal activities and your sleep, but you can tolerate it for hours or days.
Moderate can also mean pain that comes and goes even if it's severe when it's
there.

Mild pain (1 to 4): You notice the pain,
but it is not bad enough to disrupt your sleep or activities.

You may need a tetanus shot depending
on how dirty the wound is and how long it has been since your last shot.

For a dirty wound that has
things like dirt, saliva, or feces in it, you may need a shot if:

You haven't had a tetanus shot in the past 5
years.

You don't know when your last shot was.

For a clean wound, you may
need a shot if:

You have not had a tetanus shot in the past 10
years.

You don't know when your last shot was.

Symptoms of serious illness in a baby
may include the following:

The baby is limp and floppy like a rag doll.

The baby doesn't respond at all to being held, touched, or talked
to.

The baby is hard to wake up.

Symptoms of serious illness may
include:

A severe headache.

A stiff
neck.

Mental changes, such as feeling confused or much less
alert.

Extreme fatigue (to the point where it's hard for you to
function).

Shaking chills.

Symptoms of infection may
include:

Increased pain, swelling, warmth, or redness in or
around the area.

Red streaks leading from the area.

Pus draining from the area.

A fever.

Try Home Treatment

You have answered all the questions. Based on your answers, you may be
able to take care of this problem at home.

Try home treatment to relieve the
symptoms.

Call your doctor if symptoms get worse or you have any
concerns (for example, if symptoms are not getting better as you would expect).
You may need care sooner.

Call 911 Now

Home Treatment

Most blisters heal on their own. Home treatment may help decrease pain, prevent infection, and
help heal large or broken blisters.

A small, unbroken blister about the size of a pea, even a blood blister, will usually heal on its own. Use a loose bandage to protect it. Avoid the activity that caused the blister.

If a small blister is on a weight-bearing area like the bottom of the foot, protect it with a doughnut-shaped moleskin pad. Leave the area over the blister open.

It's best not to drain a blister at home. But when blisters are painful, some people do drain them. If you do decide to drain your blister, be sure to follow these steps:

Wipe a needle or straight pin with rubbing alcohol.

Gently puncture the edge of the blister.

Press the fluid in the blister toward the hole so it can drain out.

Do not drain a blister of any size if:

You have a condition such as diabetes, HIV, cancer, or heart disease, because of the risk of infection.

You think your blister is from a contagious disease, such as chickenpox, because the virus can be spread to another person.

If a blister has torn open, or after you have drained a blister:

Gently wash the area with clean water. Don't use hydrogen peroxide or alcohol, which can slow healing.

Don't remove the flap of skin over a blister unless it's very dirty or torn or there is pus under it. Gently smooth the flap over the tender skin.

You may cover the blister with a thin layer of petroleum jelly, such as Vaseline, and a nonstick bandage.

Apply more petroleum jelly and replace the bandage as needed.

Watch for a skin infection while your blister is healing.
Signs of infection include:

Increased pain, swelling, redness, or warmth
around the blister.

Red streaks extending away from the
blister.

Drainage of pus from the blister.

Fever.

Home remedies may relieve
itching from blisters. One way to help decrease
itching is to keep the itchy area cool and wet. Apply a cloth that has been
soaked in ice water, or get in a cool tub or shower.

Aspirin (also a nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory drug), such as Bayer or Bufferin

Talk to your child's doctor before switching back and
forth between doses of acetaminophen and ibuprofen. When you switch between two
medicines, there is a chance your child will get too much medicine.

Safety tips

Be sure to follow these
safety tips when you use a nonprescription medicine:

Carefully read and follow all directions
on the medicine bottle and box.

Symptoms to watch for during home treatment

Signs of illness develop,
such as shaking chills, fever, belly pain, vomiting or diarrhea, muscle or
joint aches, headache, or a vague sense of illness.

Symptoms do not
improve, or they become more severe or frequent.

Prevention

Some of the most common types of blisters
can be prevented.

To prevent blisters caused by rubbing (friction
blisters):

Avoid wearing shoes that are too tight or
that rub your feet. Roomy footwear has a wide toe box with more room for your
toes and the ball of your foot. You should be able to wiggle your toes in your
shoes. Foot size may vary half a size from the morning to the evening or after
a day at work, so purchase shoes at the end of the day when your feet are most
swollen.

Wear gloves to protect your hands when you are doing heavy
chores or yard work.

Avoid contact with any plants or other substances
that are known to cause blistery rashes. For more information, see the topic
Poison Ivy, Oak, or Sumac.

Avoid contact
with people who have infections that are known to cause blisters, such as:

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